help - headset nightmare

Simmo72

In need of some wisdom

I have an 3 year old cyclocross titanium frame, purchased on ebay and its looks wonderful. The problem (not really apparent at the time) is the headset (which was sold as well worn) is a tange seiki ZSI-47 which seems to be some stupid sort of combined internal/integrated design. God knows why this was used but it seems pretty unique. Internal/Zero stack to me is something that requires cups in the frame, well this has no cups so its integrated but tange seem to say otherwise.

http://www.tangeseiki.com/tangeseiki_ne ... 4.gif.html

It’s got some strange diameters – 41mm inside, 47mm outside.

I bought an FSA fully integrated with the same diameter but it does not fit in the frame, it’s too big.

The importer for tange won’t import it, no one stocks it, tange seem to be contactable, I think I am ******.

Any suggestions aside from chucking a perfectly good, expensive titanium frame on the tip, some sort of customer cut n shut bodge up?

Many thanks

keef66

How close to fitting is the FSA one? Could the head tube be reamed out to make it accept it?

estampida

does this help

http://www.hopetech.com/page.aspx?itemID=SPG240

nicklouse

sounds like a standard ZS41 headset.

keef66

Which FSA one do you have?

This one says 47mm OD headtube but I can't find it on the FSA website to check the dimensions

http://www.wiggle.com/fsa-no11-agy-head ... t-ocr-118/

weeve

http://www.canecreek.com/headset-fit-finder

do they have something? - looks like you can fill in your details and see if they have something to fit...

weeve

http://www.amazon.co.jp/TANGE-TECHNO-%E ... B008HOQUOQ

or try and order via amazon japan?

or a shop like this in the US

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main ... d714479aae

nicklouse

oopps should have said IS41

in that the headset fitted was designed to fit the standard internal headset design but used cups and smaller bearings.

options take the old bearings to a bearing shop and replace in the cups.

knock cups out and fit an IS41 headset. IE a pair of bearings.

Simmo72

weeve wrote:

http://www.amazon.co.jp/TANGE-TECHNO-ヘッドパーツ-ZSI-47-テクノグライド/dp/B008HOQUOQ

or try and order via amazon japan?

or a shop like this in the US

http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?main ... d714479aae

Yep, its an option, but you ever tried ordering on amazon JL, not easy! Bens seem to have 1 in stock but got to see if they will send international, if so i'll order 3 of them to keep me going if they can get more in stock, they only have one.

Simmo72

thanks, I think this might work. the headset I have does not have separate cups but it is an internal headset (if that makes sense), if a standard IS41 with separate cups has the fitting for the lip then this might work, heading to my LBS tomorrow.

Oh, why can't everything just be campagnolo 45x45, life is so much easier, or even better, just stay with external headsets, they last years.

keef66

Must admit I couldn't really see anything wrong with external headsets myself. Certainly easier to get at. Not sure what problem all these hidden/ integrated / semi-integrated setups were designed to solve...

gozzy

I think there's a clue in the line "external headsets last for years". The problem of not selling enough units is what they were designed to solve.

nicklouse

Simmo72 wrote:

thanks, I think this might work. the headset I have does not have separate cups but it is an internal headset (if that makes sense), if a standard IS41 with separate cups has the fitting for the lip then this might work, heading to my LBS tomorrow.

Oh, why can't everything just be campagnolo 45x45, life is so much easier, or even better, just stay with external headsets, they last years.

Internal is with cups and a diferent diameter and code ZS44 yours is IS41

Z stands for Zerostack, semi-integreated,internal (depends on who you talk to), I stands for integreated.

Simmo72

keef66 wrote:

Must admit I couldn't really see anything wrong with external headsets myself. Certainly easier to get at. Not sure what problem all these hidden/ integrated / semi-integrated setups were designed to solve...

They wear out quicker, it helps the industry get hold of our cash!

Simmo72

Mine is a combo - its an internal headset with built in cups - why i don't know, crazy dutch frame designer decided to use a stupid format of headset. The OD diameter of the bearing is 41mm but the cup is 45mm but I can't just slam in an IS intergrated as there is a tiny lip on the frame for the cup....which is part of the bearing not separate. using my digital calipers, the headtube is 47mm. so confused.

wi11em

aha, I had the same problem in September.
I was able to order it from Joven (based in Belgium), that uses these Tange Seike ZSI-47 headsets: http://www.joven.be/
I had to wait a couple of weeks, but received it fine.

I found another one here (based in Lithuania), currently selling frames with such a headset, you can always try there also: http://www.4t-bikes.com/index.php?optio ... &Itemid=99

best regards,

wi11em

wi11em

this shop also sells them: http://www.benscycle.net/ based in the US.

Simmo72

Hi
This is really a reference for anyone else in Europe with this issue. After getting response from anyone including some of the companies named above, Active Sports Products S.L in Girona, Spain saved the day (+34 972 75 00 30). They have a relationship with Tange and can get hold of these headsets and do hold some stock. Including P&P they are about £40. Catherine who has been assisting me is very helpful and I'm sure there are others out there struggling to track down this headset. I ordered 3 to see me through for some time!